The unbridled pursuit of more can be irresponsible at best, and exploitative at worst, but the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs understands that growth isn’t just about enriching businesses, but enriching society, says Orlando Martins

It’s sensible for a business to seek to grow, if for no other reason than the lousy alternative: those that aren’t pressing ahead are generally falling behind. Growth is also validating for leaders, a sign that they’re doing something well.

Is it right to grow? That’s a more complex question. The unbridled pursuit of more, more, more can be irresponsible at best, and exploitative at worst. It can leave labour markets hollowed out, workers mistreated, the planet trashed, the climate ruined and inequality rife.

But that hardly means growth is all bad, or that all growth is bad. Every time a business innovates to create a new market or invests to scale production, they contribute to the economic growth that has rescued most of humanity from the mud in the modern era.

Since 1770, global life expectancy has risen from 29 to 70 years. Since 1990, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty – less than $1.25 a day – has fallen from 26 per cent to 14 per cent. Even in developed countries things are looking up.........

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